Abstract: The exponential distribution is a popular model in applications to real data. We propose a new extension of this distribution, called the Lomax-exponential distribution, which presents greater flexibility to the model. Also there is a simple relation between the Lomax-exponential distribution and the Lomax distribution. Results for moment, limit behavior, hazard function, Shannon entropy and order statistic are provided. To estimate the model parameters, the method of maximum likelihood and Bayse estimations are proposed. Two data sets are used to illustrate the applicability of the Lomax-exponential distribution.